HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



071 



only a small part of the whole flow, the balance required to feed 

 the canal to the east of Lockport is necessarily discharged 

 around the locks into the lower canal by means of sluiceways. 

 Under the laws of 1825 a public auction was held in the village 

 of Lockport. in the fall of that year, and the right to use this sur- 

 plus water sold to Messrs Richard Kennedy and James H. Hatch, 

 whose successors at the present day constitute the Lockport 

 Hydraulic Power Company. 



Lockport has usually been considered more purely a result of 

 the canal development than any other point in western New York, 

 for the reason that while nearly all other towns in the region had 

 some growth before the Erie canal was located, it was only in 

 1821, after the present location for the canal had been definitely 

 decided on, that the nucleus of a village Avas formed here by the 

 contractors and their workmen employed on the canal. In 1820 

 there was no frame house or barn within 5 miles of Lockport. 

 and there were less than 600 acres of cleared land in the 1 square 

 miles, of which the city of Lockport is now the center. More- 

 over, there are no natural advantages which would have naturally 

 led to the growth of an important town at this point. 



When once started, however, under the impulse of the canal 

 development, Lockport grew rapidly until, in 1829, with a popu- 

 lation of 3000. it was incorporated as a village, and in 1865 as 

 a city. The population in 1800 was 16.038 ; in 1904 it is estimated 

 at over 17,000. 



The total investment in manufacturing plants at Lockport 

 dependent on the Erie canal water supply amounts to $2,531,000. 

 The total number of establishments is 33, employing 1880 opera- 

 tives. The total power now in use on the Erie canal proper is 

 2625 net horsepower. 



A short distance to the east of the foot of the locks a small 

 stream known as the west branch of Eighteenmile creek crosses 

 under the canal. This stream, although having a catchment area 

 of only 1 or 2 square miles to the south of the canal, has cut a 

 deep valley with rapid fall for a considerable distance to the 

 north of the canal. In order to provide for discharging the sur- 

 plus waters from the canal, an overflow into Eighteenmile creek 

 was constructed at an early day. A mill was also permitted to 



